How the powers between president and prime minister are divided can vary greatly between countries. For example, in France the president is responsible for foreign policy and the prime minister for domestic policy. In this case, the division of power between the prime minister and the president is not explicited stated in the constitution, but has evolved as a political convention.

Semi-presidential systems are sometimes characterized by periods of tense cohabitation, in which the prime minister and president are elected separately, and often from rival parties. This can create an effective system of checks and balances or a period of bitter stonewalling[?], depending on the attitudes of the two leaders or of their constituencies.